JORDAN HENDERSON believes Liverpool can be “excited” about the future as he challenged his team-mates to prove they can cope without Steven Gerrard next season.

Midfielder Henderson admitted the Liverpool dressing room was “devastated” after Gerrard’s farewell game at Anfield ended in a depressing 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace which exposed a multitude of shortcomings.

Yet Henderson, who is a leading candidate to take over the captain’s armband from Gerrard, sought to put a brave face on a stuttering end to the season in which Liverpool have taken just eight points from a possible 24.

Manager Brendan Rodgers’ side have still to qualify for the Europa League next term, but Henderson displayed the optimism that will be required over the coming months to insist Liverpool boast potential to improve.

Asked if he was worried about next season, Henderson sought to accentuate the positive and said: “I think we have to be excited about it.

“I feel we have a lot of young talent with a lot of potential. Stevie will be a huge loss, not only as a player and leader but also as a person around the place and everything he stands for.

“But that is up to us as team to step up and hopefully have a good season next time.

“It is the responsibility of the team, on and off the field, now. In terms of everything he stood for and he did for team – that’s up to us to find how we can improve now.

ACTION

Jordan Henderson believes Liverpool can be excited about the future even with Steven Gerrard's exit

“We have plenty who want to improve and do well and have to make sure we start doing it next week. I still feel there is a lot of potential in the group – but we need to start showing it next season.”

Henderson will find himself in the spotlight as he enters his fifth season at Liverpool, but the likes of England team-mate Adam Lallana, Emre Can, Martin Skrtel and Daniel Sturridge will also come under the microscope as expectation once again engulfs the club.

I feel we have a lot of young talent with a lot of potential

Jordan Henderson

Liverpool’s final game of an underwhelming campaign will be against Stoke City next Sunday and Henderson admits they let Gerrard down as his send-off went flat.

Only the home supporters salvaged the situation with a rousing chorus of Gerrard’s name over and over again in the closing stages.

“We’re devastated that we couldn’t get the result for him in the last game (at Anfield). It was a disappointing day for all involved,” he said.

“The ovation was incredible. But also it was no less than he deserves. He has been amazing throughout here, and that was a proper send off for a proper player.

“Stevie will be a huge loss and it’s up to us as a team to step up to that plate and take responsibility. Whenever I have been captain when he’s not been there, I have tried to lead by example and whoever is the captain will do so next season.”